Watch 1815 - 1845

This small watch was crafted by Savaglio & Co. The circular watch face, dominated by a stark contrast between black and white, compels the eye. Floral patterns encircle a central tableau of musical instruments, creating a microcosm of baroque opulence. In structuralist terms, the watch functions as a sign, where the circular form and intricate ornamentation signify not just time, but also luxury and artistry. The floral motifs and musical instruments are signifiers that evoke a cultural code of leisure and refinement. Yet, this object is not merely decorative. It challenges fixed meanings through its miniaturization of grand artistic themes onto a functional item, questioning traditional hierarchies of art and utility. The interplay between the micro and macro, the functional and the ornamental, subverts expectations and invites us to reconsider the semiotic relationship between value, time, and representation.